Posted on February 9th, 2010

The ancient custom of Hurling the Silver Ball starts at 10.30am today in St Ives, Cornwall, when the Mayor will throw a silver ball into the crowd, to be passed around until noon, when the person holding it will win five shillings. No, we don’t know why either, but it sounds like fun!
visitor information
more on the tradition
Posted in Screen Saver, Simple Pleasures
Posted on February 8th, 2010

Any day now, the snowdrops will be joined by the first crocuses of the year. See if you can spot any if you’re out for a walk today.
all you need to know about crocuses
no time for a walk? Watch them bloom online instead!
Posted in Screen Saver, Simple Pleasures
Posted on February 7th, 2010

Charles Dickens was born on this day in 1812. To celebrate, the house in Portsmouth where he was born will be open to the public today, but if you’re not in the area, why not commemorate his birth by reading one of his short stories?
visit his home
or read his stories
test your Dickens knowledge
Posted in Screen Saver, Simple Pleasures
Posted on February 6th, 2010

Spend some time today rediscovering the simple pleasure of one of the silly games you used to play as a kid. Consequences is always good for a laugh, or try battleships or good old noughts and crosses - who needs a Wii when you’ve got a pen and a scrap of paper?
how to play consequences
play noughts and crosses online
Posted in Screen Saver, Simple Pleasures
Posted on February 5th, 2010

Today is Stress Down Day, when we’re all encouraged to donate
official website
need some new slippers?
Posted in Screen Saver, Simple Pleasures
Posted on February 4th, 2010

You’ve got until the 26th of this month to enter a film of your favourite simple pleasure into our festival for the chance to win
Simple Pleasures film festival
tips for great home videos
Posted in Screen Saver, Simple Pleasures
Posted on February 3rd, 2010

Anyone with a love of the great outdoors should check out the Banff Mountain Film Festival, a showcase of some of the world’s most spectacular landscapes. It’s in London today, but moves on to other UK locations over the course of the month.
Banff Mountain Film Festival
climb Everest - without leaving your desk
Posted in Screen Saver, Simple Pleasures
Posted on February 2nd, 2010

Today is Candlemas Day, traditionally a time for weather prognostication. Legend has it that, ‘If Candlemas Day be fair and clear, there’ll be five winters in the year,’ so let’s hope for wind and rain today!
another way to predict the weather today
do the boffins agree?
Posted in Screen Saver, Simple Pleasures
Posted on February 1st, 2010

Many of us find it difficult to switch off, and if you ever feel that the stress of modern life is getting to you, perhaps it’s time you learned some relaxation techniques. Yoga, meditation or self-hypnosis should do the trick - or if they’re not for you, try a long bath or a bracing walk.
how to relax
relax without leaving your screen
Posted in Screen Saver, Simple Pleasures
Posted on January 31st, 2010

If you’ve always fancied keeping a diary but never got around to it, why not start today? There’s no law that says you must begin on 1 January and, in fact, we think it makes far more sense to start now than in the hustle and bustle of new year’s celebrations.
why you should keep a diary
keep a diary online
Posted in Screen Saver, Simple Pleasures